San Tan Honda - Alignment Jig is HOSED

All,
I just recently experienced a nightmare of a mess.
So, SPLNDID has -3 degrees camber in the rear and -2 degrees camber in the front. Since the car is not tracking any longer, I wanted to bring the alignment back to the Euro Spec so as to save on tires, (somewhat), and improve daily drive-ability.
I take SPLNDID to San Tan Honda after setting up a morning appointment on Saturday.
Saturday evening, just before they close, I go in to check and they say it is done,,,but,,,there are problems. They can't seem to align my car!

I look at the alignment sheet and according to their machine, my fronts are:
-5 degrees right, and -.5 degrees left. IMPOSSIBLE! The car drove splendidly on the way in!

On the drive home, my steering wheel is pointed about 10 degrees left to drive straight and the car feels like crap.

I get it home in the garage and noticed that the REAR RIGHT is sticking out massivly when compared to the FRONT RIGHT.

I go back a couple of days later and they invite me to witness the alignment. The tech turns the camber bolt on the FRONT RIGHT and their monitor shows a tiny bit of change. They tell me that there is something wrong with my suspension. NO WAY!
I don't get it! Ball Joint they tell me.... NO Way! I'd hear and feel it.

The final paper I get says again that the FRONT RIGHT is -4 degrees camber and RIGHT REAR is -0.5. When I get the car home and inspect, I find the opposite.
What I see is that the REAR RIGHT is way out and the FRONT RIGHT.

So, basically, my car is now a paper weight. The wheels are all off and it drives like doo-doo.

Looking at the alignment printout and my car again... I realize that their machine is off. I don't know exactly how laser alignment machines work - but I can tell you that it is obvious that the "beams" for the right side are reversed. That would explain why the tech could not get a movement reading when tweaking the front.

So, I called and told my service adviser that I believe that their alignment machine is wrong. "Please do a calibration, and I'll bet you my watch that you'll find the beams are crossed on the right side", I say. No response.

I spent 100 bones to have them hose my car!
Be cautious of alignments at San Tan Honda UNTIL they can verify for you that their machine is properly setup.

Last week, I took SPLNDID to Schumans, the guys that do alignments for Science of Speed shop. They aligned the car easily and it drives like a dream again.

 

I know many will disagree but I did the Firestone lifetime alignment.

As some know, I had some steering/alignment issues about 1 1/2 years ago where I have had to take the car back multiple times because either the steering wheel was off center or the alignment was slightly off.

I had gone to many places Network alignment, dealerships, Shuman's auto clinic who after two times still had the wheel off center, and then finally got the firestone for lifetime warranty. Since everything for me was covered by American honda it was more a matter of frustration but still rediculous none the less.

What's funny is in all instances I had to take it back at least once. In one instance I went to one firestone location close to my friends house. They got it wrong and then the next day I went back to the one by my house since both times it was no charge. The got it right and I have not touched the alignment since.

The manager said that the machines get calibrated every so often and I suspect the location I went to the first time was off. Because when he put it on the rack all the reading were way out.

So I don't think what happened is that surprising given my past experiences. I suspect some people are more sensitive to the steering that others and since i could feel even the slight differences I knew something was wrong.

A suggestion, Since you got it right I think you should take your readings in the "red" back to the dealership you originally had the work done and demand a refund or credit.

I understand your aggrivation, it took months for my steering problems to go away.

Good luck.

 

Sorry to hear!

I recently had an alignment done at San Tan back to Euro spec with no issue's. I was also concerned as to who would be driving my car around the shop(due to my new CCS4 clutch and new motor still being broken in)and believe my concerns scared them enough to have 4 tech's come out and push my car in and out of the shop.

I was pleased with my results pertaining my alignment but was informed these machines need calibrating periodically so maybe that's the issue.

 

I have the Firestone lifetime as well. I always ask them for a print out of my specs when they first put my car on the rack, then ask for a print out of the work when they are finished. I compare the before and after sheets, and if I am happy, I print it out. I have had very good experience with Firestone, and I run my own custom alignment. They are good about working with me on my own setup.

 

sounds like you didnt have a SPLNDID visit.. i would hit up network alignment.. never had any issues with them

 

I've had alignments done there before, and they were always perfect, I'm sorry to hear this. I know from personal experience with this dealership that the management is kind of ****** with all the techs and their pay plans, so all the honda master certified techs have since quit. (the one that always worked on my car is for sure gone) Knowing this, I would not let just any little UTI kid work on my car... They have a couple of good people left there, but until they start running that dealership ethically they will have no good employees left. Might I ask who your advisor was?

 

we use Network on Main and center

 

Exactly!
I also had an alignment done to SPLNDID about 2 years ago when the car was lower than it is now and had the aggressive camber applied. San Tan Honda did a great job then...That's why I was surprised that the alignment went so bad this time.
It has to be that their alignment rig was not calibrated before SPLNDID took the lift.

Shumans did a great job of putting SPLNDID back in shape, so I'll stick with them for now.

Firestone? Maybe I'll give them a try!
I would really like to find a shop that understands the S. Earnhardt's spectacular service of old apparently is gone for us S drivers. Bummer.

Thanks for the input so far.

Please continue to use this thread to alert others of where NOT to go... and also... where we CAN go to get great service.

Thanks,
CB

 

UPDATE:
Shuman's aligned SPLNDID with Euro spec. All okay... which proves again that San Tan Honda had a hosed alignment machine setup!

I spent 100 bones at San Tan just to have my car handed back to me in absolute crap condition.

Be berry berry careful with San Tan Honda. It's like going to Fry's Electronics for computer parts.
Just know exactly what you are going for.

CB

 

Ya, I used Network and was pleased!